Helping hand

ABSTRACT

A hand cover system that protects the user and provides one or more working materials for cleaning or altering surfaces. The inner cover has at least one outer layer that resists compounds and chemicals used and effluent created during the desired process of cleaning or altering surfaces. The inner cover may have intermediate layers that separate the outermost and innermost layers and may help isolate the user from the general working environment. The inner cover may have innermost layers that isolate the user from any noxious qualities of adjacent layers and may further isolate the user from the general environment. The inner cover envelopes the user&#39;s hand and may envelope the wrist and part of the forearm. The outer working hand cover is reversible, index-able and/or ambidextrous to expose fresh portions and/or different type working materials to the area of the hand best suited for the desired process. The inner comfort hand cover is donned and then the outer working hand cover is donned over the inner comfort cover.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hand covers, and more particular to an impervious inner cover and an outer working cover for cleaning and/or altering surfaces and is believed to be properly classified in one or more of the following classes: CCL 2/161; 15/227 and 451/523. Hand covers that are adapted to processes are very old art. Hand Covering, U.S. Pat. No. 1,387,728 to Kramer in 1921 was for a hand conforming waterproof glove for use in mining. Cleaning Device, U.S. Pat. No. 2,030,494 to Bireley in 1936 was for a glove with a cleaning pad attached near the finger tips and thumb. Combination Plastic Mitten and sponge Rubber Washing Device to Zeumer in 1956 was for a glove with a sponge in the palm. Abrasive Surface Glove, U.S. Pat. No. 3,151,333 to Scholz in 1964 was for a glove with a rough surface to improve cleaning vegetables. Working Glove, U.S. Pat. No. 3,885,249 to Brabander in 1975 was for a glove that used Velcro™ to attach a working surface to a glove. Scouring Mitten, U.S. Pat. No. 4,051,572 to Greenwood in 1977 was for a mitten that had an abrasive surface with a gauntlet that had a closing means for the gauntlet. Waterproof Scouring Glove With Flange, U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,388 to Ortolivo in 1986 was for a glove with abrasive surfaces on the palm side and also on the knuckle portion of the fingers. Flexible Finishing Glove, U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,148 to Vargas in 1999 was for mitten with working surfaces glued to the mitten or hand shaped pad with straps for the finger and thumb portion. Glove With Attachable Cleaning Pads, U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,770 to Dennis in 1999 was for a glove with attachable pads with different colors that indicate the type of pad or its use. Cleaning and Scouring Glove, U.S. Pat. No. 6,018,837 to Andreu in 2000 was for a glove with scouring coatings on the finger and thumb tips with a sponge in the palm. Cleaning System, U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,234 to Jackson in 2000 was for a glove with attachable cleaning pads on the finger and thumb tips with a sponge in the palm and a cleaning pad with pockets. Versatile Sanding Glove, U.S. Pat. No. 6,55,178B1 to Hoover in 2003 was for a glove with loop fasteners on the fingers to attach cleaning pads and shaped sanding tools.

Prior art of hand covers address flexibility and imperviousness to water, detergents and solvents but does not address the fact that some materials with those properties and especially for some solvents may be noxious to the user. Prior art devices further address having different material portions on the exterior of the outermost surface of the hand cover but do not provide for having working material inside the outer cover as this would normally come in contact with the users hand.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Cleaning and altering the surface of objects range from gently cleaning delicate objects such as vegetables to abrading crusted materials from metallic objects to fine polishing and many other variations. Many of these processes have be automated or at least assisted by improvements in industrial machinery. However, based on economics and the need for visual and tactile reference many desired processes are still performed by hand. Often the desired process includes the use of water, detergents, solvents and other chemical compounds that prolonged exposure to create discomfort or hazards to the user. The other feature most often needed is a material on the outermost portion of the hand cover that is adapted to the desired process. This may be a material that has inherent properties or coatings for cleaning, abrasion or polishing or carries compounds used in the desired process.

The present invention comprises a flexible impervious inner comfort hand cover in a mitt or glove configuration that may extend to cover the wrist and may further extend to cover a portion of the forearm and a flexible working outer cover in a mitt or glove configuration and may have a wrist band. For the inner comfort hand cover the outermost layer material is selected for imperviousness to chemicals used in the desired process. An innermost layer may be present to isolate the user from any noxious qualities of adjacent layers and/or help isolate the user from the general working environment. An intermediate layer may be present to separate and/or bond adjacent layers and/or help isolate the user from the general working environment. The outer working hand cover is made from at least one material as best suited for a step of the desired process. By using material with two different sides or stacking two or more layers of different material for the palm and back side of the outer working hand cover, it may be reversed, indexed or moved to the other hand to expose fresh portions and/or different type working materials to the area of the hand best suited for the step of the desired process.

Hand covers having both an outer working surface and an inner barrier are known but that design limits the working material to the outer surface and does not address potential noxious qualities of the barrier materials. Many working materials that have inherent properties suited for cleaning and abrading such as Scotch Brite™ are porous. Even if the working material is not porous a hand cover designed to be reversed would exposed the user to the working material, chemicals used and effluent of the process. Some prior designs have addressed the usefulness of changing the working surface of a hand cover with removably adhered or mechanically attached pads. Those designs have more individual parts and reduce overall flexibility of the hand cover and may not provide working material for all areas of the hand.

Prior art hand covers address providing an inner barrier. Even latex is noxious to some users and other materials resistance to chemicals have other noxious qualities. The present invention provides for inner layers that isolate the user from noxious qualities or incompatibility and/or bonding of adjacent layers and may further provide improved isolation of the user from the general working environment.

It is a general objective of the present invention to provide a generally flexible hand cover system with an inner comfort hand cover and an outer working hand cover.

It is another object of the invention to provide a readily changeable, reversible, index-able and/or ambidextrous outer working hand cover with internal and external working surfaces that may have no digit stalls or up to five digit stalls. And further that the outer working hand cover may be produced at a low cost.

It is further object of the invention to provide an inner comfort hand cover that covers the hand that may have no digit stalls or up to five digit stalls and may cover the wrist and may cover the forearm which isolates the user from the outer working hand cover and any chemicals used in the desired process, noxious qualities of adjacent layers and/or the general working environment. And further that the inner comfort hand cover may be produced at a low cost.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the Detailed Description, Drawings and Claims of this application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the invention believed to be novel are set forth in the claims. The drawings are intended to enhance the readers understanding of the presented embodiment in which;

FIG. 1 is a palm side, back side and palm side view of the completed inner comfort hand cover;

FIG. 2 is a palm side, back side and palm side view of the completed outer working hand cover;

FIG. 3 is a palm side, back side and palm side view of the completed inner comfort hand cover with a thumb stall;

FIG. 4 is a palm side, back side and palm side view of the completed outer working hand cover with a thumb stall;

FIG. 5 is a palm side, back side and palm side view of the completed inner comfort hand cover with wrist sections, gauntlet sections and a thumb stall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows palm side 2, back side 5 and a palm view of inner comfort hand cover 1. Wrist edge 3 of palm side 2 extends from point A to point B. Joining edge 4 of palm side 2 extends from point A at the outward end of wrist edge 3 to point B at the outward end of wrist edge 3. Wrist edge 6 of back side 5 extends from point C to point D. Joining edge 7 of back side 5 extends from point C at the outward end of wrist edge 6 to point D at the outward end of wrist edge 6. Fastener strip 8 is attached to back side 5 proximate to wrist edge 6.

Inner comfort hand cover 1 and wrist opening 9 are formed when back side 5 is joined and sealed to palm side 2 about their respective joining edges 4 and 6 so that fastener strip 7 is external on the inner hand cover 1. Palm side 2 and back side 5 may be made of layers that are joined and sealed about their respective joining edges and wrist edges prior to joining and sealing to form inner comfort hand cover 1 or all layers may be joined and sealed in one operation. The inner comfort hand cover may also be produced by molding techniques that would accommodate layering if present. The inner hand cover is donned and then the outer working cover is donned over it.

FIG. 2 shows palm side 11, back side 15 and a palm view of outer working hand cover 10. Wrist edge 12 of palm side 11 extends from point E to point F. Joining edge 13 of palm side 11 extends from point E at the outward end of wrist edge 12 to point F at the outward end of wrist edge 12. Wrist edge 16 of back side 15 extends from point G to point H. Joining edge 17 of back side 15 extends from point G at the outward end of wrist edge 16 to point H at the outward end of wrist edge 16. Companionate fastener strip 14 is attached to palm side 11 proximate to wrist edge 12 and companionate fastener strip 18 is attached to back of hand side 15 proximate to wrist edge 16.

Outer working hand cover 10 and wrist opening 19 are formed when back side 15 is joined to palm side 11 about their respective joining edges 13 and 17 so that Companionate fastener strip 14 is external and Companionate fastener strip 18 is internal on working hand cover 10. Palm side 11 and back side 15 may be made from material that has a coating on both sides or two layers of material coated on one side or from one or more layers of material(s) that is inherently adaptive to one or more steps of the desired process of cleaning or altering a surface. If layered the layers may be joined about their respective joining edges and wrist edge prior to joining to form working hand cover 10 or all layers may be joined in one operation. If produced from coated material the layers may have regions of different working material on the same side. The working hand cover is donned over the inner comfort hand cover. Thus by reversing or indexing the outer working hand cover the user may bring fresh working material or at least four different working materials to the region of the hand best suited for the work. The outer working hand cover may also be produced by molding techniques which accommodate application of coatings and/or layering.

FIG. 3 shows palm side 21, back side 26 and a palm view of inner comfort hand cover 20. Wrist edge 22 of palm side 21 extends from point I to point J. Palm side 21 has a radially projecting thumb portion 25 which extends laterally from the palm side in a slight declining disposition from wrist edge 22. Joining edge 23 of palm side 21 extends from point I at the outward end of wrist edge 22 to point J at the outward end of wrist edge 22. Fastener strip 24 is attached to palm side 21 proximate to wrist edge 22.

Wrist edge 27 of back side 26 extends from point K to point L. Back side 26 has a radially projecting thumb portion 30 which extends laterally from the back side in a slight declining disposition from wrist opening 27. Joining edge 28 of back side 26 extends from point K at the outward end of wrist edge 27 to point L at the outward end of wrist edge 27. Fastener strip 29 is attached to back side 26 proximate to wrist edge 27.

Inner comfort hand cover 20 and wrist opening 31 are formed when back side 26 is joined and sealed to palm side 21 about their respective joining edges 23 and 28 so that fastener strip 24 and 29 are external on inner hand cover 20. Palm side 21 and back side 25 may be made of layers that are joined and sealed about their respective joining edges and wrist edge prior to joining and sealing to form inner comfort hand cover 20 or all layers may be joined and sealed in one operation. The inner comfort hand cover may also be produced by molding techniques that would accommodate layering if present. The inner hand cover is donned and then the outer working cover is donned over it.

FIG. 4 shows palm side 33, back side 38 and a palm view of outer working hand cover 32. Wrist edge 34 of palm side 33 extends from point M to point N. Palm side 33 has a radially projecting thumb portion 37 which extends laterally from the palm side in a slight declining disposition from wrist edge 34. Joining edge 35 of palm side 33 extends from point M at the outward end of wrist edge 34 to point N at the outward end of wrist edge 34. Companionate fastener strip 36 is attached to palm side 33 proximate to wrist edge 34.

Wrist edge 39 of back side 38 extends from point 0 to point P. Back side 38 has a radially projecting thumb portion 42 which extends laterally from the back side in a slight declining disposition from wrist opening 39. Joining edge 40 of back side 38 extends from point O at the outward end of wrist edge 39 to point P at the outward end of wrist edge 39. and companionate fastener strip 41 is attached to back of hand side 38 proximate to wrist edge 39.

Outer working hand cover 32 and wrist opening 43 are formed when back side 38 is joined to palm side 33 about their respective joining edges 40 and 35 so that Companionate fastener strip 36 is external and Companionate fastener strip 41 is internal on working hand cover 32. Palm side 33 and back side 38 may be made from material that has a coating on both sides or two layers of material coated on one side or from one or more layers of material(s) that is inherently adaptive to one or more steps of the desired process of cleaning or altering a surface. If layered the layers may be joined about their respective joining edges and wrist edge prior to joining to form working hand cover 32 or all layers may be joined in one operation. If produced from coated material the layers may have regions of different working material on the same side. The working hand cover is donned over the inner comfort hand cover. Thus by reversing or indexing the outer working hand cover the user may bring fresh working material or at least four different working materials to the region of the hand best suited for the work. The outer working hand cover may also be produced by molding techniques which accommodate application of coatings and/or layering.

FIG. 5 shows palm side 45, back side 57 and a palm view of inner comfort hand cover 44. Further shown are palm section 46, wrist section 47 and gauntlet section 48 of palm side 45 and back section 58, back wrist section 59 and back gauntlet section 60 of back side 57.

Wrist edge 51 of palm section 46 extends from point Q to point R. Palm section 46 has a radially projecting thumb portion 50 which extends laterally from the palm section in a slight declining disposition from wrist edge 51. Lower wrist edge 52 of wrist section 47 extends from point Q to point R. Upper gauntlet edge 53 of wrist section 47 extends from point S to point T. Lower gauntlet edge 54 of gauntlet section 48 extends form point S to point T. Gauntlet edge 55 extends from point U to point V. Joining edge 56 of palm side 45 extends from point U at the outward end of gauntlet edge 55 to point V at the outward end of gauntlet edge 55. Wrist edge 51 is joined and sealed to lower wrist edge 52 and upper gauntlet edge 52 is joined and sealed to lower gauntlet edge 54 to form palm side 45. Fastener strip 49 is attached to palm side 45 proximate to wrist edge 51. Palm section 46, wrist section 47 and gauntlet section 48 may be produced unitary.

Wrist edge 63 of back hand section 58 extends from point W to point X. Back hand section 58 has a radially projecting thumb portion 61 which extends laterally from the back palm section in a slight declining disposition from wrist edge 63. Lower wrist edge 64 of back wrist section 59 extends from point W to point X. Back upper gauntlet edge 65 of back wrist section 59 extends from point Y to point Z. Lower gauntlet edge 66 of back gauntlet section 60 extends form point Y to point Z. Gauntlet edge 67 extends from point AA to point AB. Joining edge 68 of back side 57 extends from point AA at the outward end of gauntlet edge 67 to point AB at the outward end of gauntlet edge 67. Wrist edge 51 is joined and sealed to lower wrist edge 52 and upper gauntlet edge 53 is joined and sealed to lower gauntlet edge 54 to form back side 57. Fastener strip 62 is attached to back side 57 proximate to wrist edge 63. Back section 58, back wrist section 59 and back gauntlet section 60 may be produced unitary.

Inner comfort hand cover 44 and gauntlet opening 69 are formed when back side 57 is joined and sealed to palm side 45 about their respective joining edges 56 and 68 so that fastener strip 49 and 62 are external on inner hand cover 44. Palm side 45 and back side 57 may be made of layers of different materials. The outermost layer is resistant to chemicals used in the desired process, the innermost layer isolates the user from any noxious qualities of adjacent layers and/or helps isolate the user from the general working environment and the intermediate layer buffers any incompatibility of adjacent layers or bonds them and/or helps isolate the user from the general working environment. Palm side 45 and back side 57 layers may joined and sealed about their respective joining edges and wrist edges prior to joining and sealing to form inner comfort hand cover 44 or all layers may be joined and sealed in one operation. The inner comfort hand cover may also be produced by molding techniques that would accommodate layering if present. The inner hand cover is donned and then the outer working cover is donned over it. 

1. A hand cover working system for cleaning or modifying surfaces, comprising: a generally flexible inner comfort hand cover and a generally flexible outer working hand cover, said inner comfort hand cover envelopes the wearer's hand having an opening for the wrist, made from at least one layer of material, whereby said inner comfort hand cover is impervious to compounds and chemicals used in or effluent created by cleaning or modifying surfaces, said outer working hand cover envelopes the wearer's hand over said inner comfort hand cover having an opening for the wrist, is reversible and ambidextrous including; a palm side and a back side; wherein said palm side and back side are made from at least one layer of working material(s); whereby the user may reverse or index said outer working cover to expose fresh or different material to the working area.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said outer working hand cover having at least one digit stall and said inner comfort hand cover having at least as many digit stalls as said outer working hand cover, wherein said inner comfort hand cover having digit stalls companionate to said working hand cover's digit stalls.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: said inner comfort hand cover having at least one strip of fastener material attached external and proximate to said wrist opening, and said outer working hand cover having at lease one strip of companionate fastener material attached internal and proximate to said wrist opening and at lease one strip of companionate fastener material attached external and proximate to said wrist opening.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising said inner comfort hand cover and having a wrist section and gauntlet section, wherein said wrist section conforms to the user's wrist and said gauntlet section covers a portion of the user's forearm.
 5. A hand cover working system for cleaning or modifying surfaces, comprising: a generally flexible inner comfort hand cover and a generally flexible outer working hand cover, said inner comfort hand cover envelopes the wearer's hand having an opening for the wrist, including an outer shell layer; intermediate layer; and an innermost layer; whereby said outer shell layer is impervious to any compounds and chemicals used in or effluent created by cleaning or modifying surfaces, whereby said intermediate layer, buffers any incompatibility of said outer shell layer and said innermost layer and or binds said outer shell layer to said innermost layer and or improves isolation of the wearer from the general working environment, whereby said innermost layer isolates the wearer's hand from the adjacent layer and or improves isolation of the wearer from the general working environment said outer working hand cover envelopes the wearer's hand over said inner comfort hand cover having an opening for the wrist, is reversible and ambidextrous including; a palm side and a back side; wherein said palm side and back side are made from at least one layer of working material(s); whereby the user may reverse or index said outer working cover to expose fresh or different material to the working area.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said outer working hand cover having at least one digit stall and said inner comfort hand cover having at least as many digit stalls as said outer working hand cover, wherein said inner comfort hand cover having digit stalls companionate to said working hand cover's digit stalls.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising: said inner comfort hand cover having at least one strip of fastener material attached external and proximate to said wrist opening, and said outer working hand cover having at lease one strip of companionate fastener material attached internal and proximate to said wrist opening and at lease one strip of companionate fastener material attached external and proximate to said wrist opening.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising said inner comfort hand cover and having a wrist section and gauntlet section, wherein said wrist section conforms to the user's wrist and said gauntlet section covers a portion of the user's forearm, wherein said intermediate layer is present in at least the hand section, and wherein said innermost layer is present in at least the hand section. 